Content area
Abstract
Even five years post-COVID, storefront vacancy remains a persistent problem across American cities, a visceral void that takes away from the vitality and social benefits of the urban experience. At the same time, artists are finding urban cores increasingly unaffordable places to create and exhibit work. This project looks at these two parallel issues through the lens of opportunity within the context of New York City; artists possess the necessary tools and imagination to transform these empty storefronts into community-forward, vibrant spaces. By analyzing precedent initiatives using two frameworks—bottom-up (nonprofit and private) and top-down (city and government-driven)—I identify the benefits, best practices, and limitations of this model. Building on this research with further inspiration from local and international strategies, I present a roadmap for the implementation of an artist and community-informed reimagination of vacant storefronts citywide.
